Exercise and Volunteer Work: Contexts for AD Language and Memory Interventions

Abstract

This article describes two novel contexts for language and memory stimulation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD): student-supervised physical exercise and partnered volunteering at community agencies. Information presented is based on 5 years of the authors' experiences at the University of Arizona supervising student-administered interventions with mildly to moderately affected home-dwelling AD patients in the Volunteers in Partnership and Elder Rehab programs. The authors report significant mood and fitness improvements by program participants, as measured on direct testing as well as by caregiver perceptions regarding the relative benefits of the four program components. Finally, they advocate for greater use of nontraditional approaches and utilizing students and volunteers when working with persons who have AD.

Exercise and Mental Health: Many Reasons to Move

“…In a recent study, Williams and Tappen [34] observed an antidepressant effect of exercise in severe AD. However, such investigations are still scarce and very little is known about the efficiency of exercise as a protective factor in AD [31,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40] ( table 2 ).…”

Thinking Outside the Stroke: Treating Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

“…SLPs should work with the patient and family to modify previous hobbies to fit current functional and cognitive abilities in order to minimize isolation and to ensure that the individual continues to stay mentally engaged. For example, a person who enjoyed volunteering at a community center could continue to do this with the understanding that tasks must be continually modified to meet the person's abilities (Mahendra & Arkin, 2004). …”

Language-Enriched Exercise plus Socialization for Older Adults with Dementia: Translation to Rural Communities

“…Outcomes have been reported in detail elsewhere. [28][29][30][31] Participants showed significant increases over time on all physical fitness indicators, and two-thirds of participants achieved their best aerobic exercise durations after only one or two semesters in the program. 31 A significant decrease in depression symptoms was observed for participants who remained in the program for four or more semesters (i.e., 2 or more years).…”

“…[28][29][30][31] Participants showed significant increases over time on all physical fitness indicators, and two-thirds of participants achieved their best aerobic exercise durations after only one or two semesters in the program. 31 A significant decrease in depression symptoms was observed for participants who remained in the program for four or more semesters (i.e., 2 or more years). 31 To assess effects on cognitive performance, the authors compared change scores on selected cognitive measures to annual change data from the CE-RAD registry, 38 a large cohort of persons with AD who were not enrolled in any systematic intervention programs.…”

“…20,26,27 A few multimodal programs, however, have been developed for individualized delivery, and of these, one of the most thoroughly studied is the Elder Rehab program developed by Arkin and colleagues. 1,[28][29][30][31] ELDER REHAB PROGRAM The Elder Rehab program was a longitudinal intervention program for older adults diagnosed with AD that combined three main intervention components: physical exercise, language and memory stimulation, and social outings plus volunteer work. 1 This program was an outgrowth of an earlier intervention program (Volunteers in Partnership).…”